Charges dropped against Erie man in death of kitten

An Erie man accused of letting his dog kill a kitten will not stand trial on the most serious charge Erie police filed against him.

The prosecution agreed that the defendant, Michael Jefferson, had been improperly charged twice for the same incident, in the 900 block of West 17th Street, on June 23.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office has agreed to the dismissal of a second-degree misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals and five summary offenses against Jefferson.

Judge Shad Connelly dismissed the charges, with the consent of the District Attorney's Office.

Jefferson's lawyer, Nicole Sloane, an assistant public defender, argued that the new charges were invalid. She cited the rule known as compulsory joinder of offenses, which is similar to the constitutional safeguard against double jeopardy.

She wrote in court records that Erie police on June 26 cited Jefferson for two summary offenses -- disorderly conduct and public drunkenness -- over the death of the kitten, and that he pleaded guilty to them on July 10. Jefferson must pay fines totaling $75, plus costs, according to court records.

The same police officer who filed the initial citations, Cheryl Frey, filed the additional charges against Jefferson on July 12, according to court records.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Krowicki wrote in a response that the prosecution had no objection to the dismissal of the charges.

ED PALATTELLA can be reached at 870-1813 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNpalattella.